I'm hoping to go back to the States this summer (as long as Covid doesn't get out of control again) with my son for about 4 weeks.

 

I need insurance in case of sickness or accidents. I'm 66 years old. My son is 9 years old.

 

Can anyone recommend a good temporary insurance provider?

 

Do you know if I can rely on Medicare for any sickness or accidents for myself?

 

Thank you.

Not a medicare recipient but from close it to so I am researching. Medicare part A (hospitalization is covered) forever. Medicare part B is covered if participated. Others can chime in if someone can participate in an emergency (after 65 of coure) in case did not participate when enrolled in medicare. 

Here's the limited bit that I know........

 

My wife turned 65 in December. She was automatically enrolled into Medicare Part A (hospitalization) and Part B (medical). Part A is normally free, though there are apparently some exceptions to this. Part B was going to cost her $170/MO. (We opted out of Part B coverage, but kept the free part, Part A.) 

 

If you are not enrolled in Medicare, then you won't have it when you go back to the U.S.. You may be eligible for it, but until a Medicare number/card has been issued to you, you don't have it. 

 

If I recall correctly, you can enroll in a window that starts three months before your 65th birthday, and lasts until three months after. If you MISS that pre-defined "65th birthday window," you must wait until Medicare's normal annual enrollment period to join. 

 

Thus, from what you've said, unless you ALREADY HAVE Medicare coverage and a Medicare number, you WON'T have it for your upcoming trip. 

 

As for Insurance acquired in Thailand.......... 

 

2 1/2 years ago when we traveled to Europe and the U.S., my wife and I arranged for "travel health insurance" fairly inexpensively through Bangkok Bank's insurance arm. 

 

What was interesting was........ 

 

She was completely covered in both Europe and the U.S.. But I could only be covered for my time in Europe, but NOT in the U.S.!

 

Turns out, because I am an American Citizen, they would not cover me in my home country, America! Europe, sure. America, no way! 

 

No idea how normal or unusual this is. I could buy pretty good, limited term "travel health insurance" in Thailand for a pretty reasonable rate............ but not for when I was traveling in my home country! 

 

Don't know if any of this will help you, any. But there you go! 

 

Cheers! 

So it's been a while since i had to do this, but i always found Bupa, now Cigna was the best.

 

Now as for Medicare, you have automatically been enrolled in Part A at no cost, but be aware of the limitations of Part A if you haven't signed up for Part B.

 

Even with Part A, you're on the hook for a sizable chunk of change for any anything semi serious